Catapult



May 15, 1923; 1,45%75 S. E. CHAPMAN CATAPULT Filed Nov. 9, 1922 lNVENTOR Ell/711452 E- GIMP/MM BY WW Patented May 15, 1923.

PATENT OFFIC.

SAMUEL E. CHAPMAN, OF SAN MATEO, CALIFORNIA.

CATAPULT.

Application filed November 9, 1922. Serial No. 599,813.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, SAMUEL E. CHAPMAN,

. a citizen of the United States, residing at San Mateo, in the county of San Mateo and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Catapults, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improved catapult.

The object of my invention is to provide a catapult which may be readily carried about by a man.

Another object of my invention is to provide a catapult which is simple in construction and which Will hurl missiles a great distance.

In the drawing in which my invention is illustrated Figure 1 is a plan view of my invention.

Figure 2 is a side view of the same.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view of the missile.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 1 indicates the barrel in which is formed a bore 2. J ournaled at the rear of the barrel 1 is a reel 3 upon which is formed a crank handle 4 to rotate said ree A cross beam 5 is secured to the lower face of the barrel 1 forwardly of the reel 3. A bracket 6 is secured to the barrel 1 forwardly of the beam 5. Pivoted to the outer ends of the bracket 6 are two levers 7 and 8. Springs 9 and 10 are secured to the ends of the beam 5 by eye bolts 11 and 12 respectively. The other ends of the springs 9 and 10 are secured to eyes 13 and 14 in the ends of the levers 7 and 8 respectively.

A central transverse slot 15 in the barrel 1 extends from a point forwardly of the reel 3 to a point adjacent the forward end of said barrel.

A rider 16 is adapted to operate in the slot 15. Cables 17 and 18 are secured to the outer ends of the levers 7 and 8 respectively and are threaded through holes 19 and 20 respectively in the rider 16. The cables 17 and 18 are both secured to a cable 29 which encircles the reel 3.

A trigger 30 is pivoted at 21 to the rear of the barrel 1 and a pin 22 which is secured thereto extends upwardly into the slot'15. A tension spring 23 normally holds the pin 22 upwardly in the slot 15. A hole 24 is formed in the rider 16 to receive the pin 22 and hold the rider in the springing or cooked position. The projectile 25 which may be loaded with an explosive or gas is placed in the forward end of the bore 2. A pin 26 extends from the rear end of the projectile 25 and bears against a spring 27 which is positioned in a bore 28 in the rear portion of the projectile. The object of the pin 26 and spring 27 is to relieve the shock of the initial propelling blow against the projectile 25.

The operation of my catapult is as follows: The reel 3 is rotated by the crank 1 and winds up on the cable 29 which draws the rider 16 rearwardly and swings the levers 7 and 8 inwardly against the tension of the springs 9 and 10. The pin 22 is inserted in the hole 24 to hold the rider 16 in its set position. The projectile 25 is now placed in the bore 2. When the trigger 20 is pulled downwardly the rider 16 is released and the springs 9 and 10, through the levers 7 and 8 and cables 17 and 18, carry the rider forwardly to eject the projectile.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A catapult comprising a barrel, said barrel having a bore therein, a rider in said bore, levers pivoted adjacent said barrel, springs connected at one end to the levers and at the other ends to the barrel, cables secured to said levers and extending through said rider whereby said rider is retracted, and means for holding said rider in the re tracted position.

2. A catapult comprising a barrel, said barrel having a bore therein, a rider in said bore, a beam secured to said barrel, a bracket secured to said barrel, levers pivoted to said bracket, springs secured to said levers and said beam, cables secured to said levers and said rider, and means positioned at the rear of said barrel'for holding said rider in a retracted position.

3. A catapult comprising a barrel, said barrel having a bore therein, a rider in said bore, a beam secured to said barrel, a bracket secured to said barrel, levers pivoted to said bracket, springs secured to said levers and said beam, cables secured to said levers and said rider, a reel journaled at the rear of said barrel, said cables extending over said reel, and means positioned at the rear of said barrel whereby said rider is held in a retracted position.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature. 

